Arrival (Planet of Last Resort #1)

Chapter 9 #2

“There aren’t any infected here now,” Melly said, interrupting when Mike’s words stumbled to a halt. And we all have weapons to keep us safe, plus we’ve got cool military groundcars to drive around in.”

“I wanted to go help the person—it was our neighbor Mr. Corock I think—and I got out one of Dad’s blasters.” He pointed at a weapon lying on the shelf next to a narrow bed. “But I was afraid to open the door.”

“Sensible of you,” Jeff said, squatting to be at eye level. “Sometimes one soldier no matter how brave can’t fight all the bad guys. And you had your orders from your Dad. You did good.”

“Mr. Corock wouldn’t have wanted you to get in trouble for him,” Melly said, patting his shoulder. “Besides, he might have been able to outrun them.”

Mike shook his head side to side slowly. “He didn’t.”

Buddy licked his face and the boy laughed. “Ewww, dog kisses.” He got to his feet, holding the leash. “Now what, sis?”

I don’t want him to see the bodies, Melly said, remembering the com this time in her anxiety to keep her brother from further trauma.

“Tell you what,” Jeff said, talking to Mike. “Can you stay in here a little longer and show Zach and Cody whatever supplies you’ve got? We can load up anything useful into the APC’s and take it with us when we leave later today.”

“Sure, I can do that. There’s still lots of food. I ate all the sweet stuff.” Mike had a guilty look on his face. “But I ate fruit too. And cereal, I swear. And?—”

“It’s all right.” Melly took his hand. “In an emergency like this the food rules go out the window. We get it. We’ll try to readjust to eating more normally tomorrow.”

“Are we going with you?” Mike asked Jeff.

“Of course, trooper. We wouldn’t take your food and leave you behind.”

Mike nodded, frown clearing from his face. “A group of men tried to break into the house and steal stuff before Mom got sick. Dad shot one in the arm and they ran away.”

Realizing how much trauma her brother had endured chilled Melly, as did the thought that she was now his parent basically, to protect in this uncertain world. She made a vow to herself to put Mike first at all times and keep him safe.

You’re not alone in this , Jeff said in her head. He touched her elbow . I’m here for you and him, and my guys will protect him with all they’ve got. We’re all a team, doc.

“All right, you two are on foraging duty with our new recruit here,” he said out loud to the two soldiers. “You know our priorities. Stow whatever you decide we need in the cargo compartments. Doc and I are going to the house to help Trent and Samms. I’ll let you know when the coast is clear to bring the boy back.”

“And Buddy,” Mike said, clutching the leash. “We’re not leaving him behind.”

“Of course not.” Melly leaned over to kiss her brother on the cheek, which he tolerated, shyly giving her a peck too, and then she followed Jeff out of the shelter and down the corridor to the outside. The fresh air hit her lungs like a Spring breeze and she took a deep breath.

“I’m glad your brother survived,” Jeff said as he emerged from the tunnel. “He seems like a good kid.”

“He is,” she said, heart simultaneously full of happiness her sibling had survived and she had at least one member of her family alive, yet weighed down by crushing grief for her parents. “Thanks for not asking him for any more details of exactly what happened here.”

“Nah, he’ll tell us on his own time. The guys are nearly done with the grave so in about ten minutes we’ll be able to have whatever rites you’d like and then I figure we can spare an hour to pack up supplies and for you and Mike to go through the house for whatever you want to take. Pack light though. The APC’s don’t have infinite capacity for cargo.”

“And where are we going exactly?” she asked, stopping and facing him.

Jeff raised his eyebrows in surprise. “We’re headed for our homestead out in the wildlands. The ranch, remember? Once we get there we can regroup and assess the entire situation, decide what makes the most sense to do next.”

“What if I don’t think Mike and I should go chasing off into the wildlands with you? I have to make decisions with him in mind now too.”

“I respect that fact.” Closing the gap between them in two rapid steps, Jeff put his arm around her. “If you think I’m going to leave you and the boy here to fend for yourselves, you’re not clear on the situation. Or on the feelings I have for you. Feelings I thought we shared.”

She stared at the grass, part of her mind marveling at how nature kept doing what it always did, bugs crawling, plants growing, when the entire world was falling apart for the humans. Eventually she raised her eyes to meet his gaze. “What are you and your men really doing on Randal Four? And don’t tell me about your retirement and all that bullshit. It seems obvious to me you and your team are still on active duty. What’s at the ranch?”

Jeff maintained his embrace but lifted his head to the blue sky and swore. “This is what I get for falling in love with such a smart woman.”

Rocked by his choice of words, she blinked. “You’re in love with me?”

“Oh yeah, lady, I’m a total goner for you and have been since about day one. I was trying to take things more slowly but this damn planet doesn’t give us any breaks, does it?” He spotted a bench with an attached sunshade close by and led her to it, waiting for her to sit before joining her. “I’m not asking you to make any declarations—I know I’m going too fast?—”

“Shut up and kiss me,” she said, grabbing his shoulder and pulling him closer. When he touched her lips with his, she parted to allow him entry and then explored the warmth and spice of his mouth in a dance of emotion. He pulled her onto his lap and the embrace became even more passionate until finally he pulled back with obvious reluctance. “Now isn’t the time, I know, but damn, I want you.”

“Likewise,” she said with a laugh. “But don’t think you can avoid my question by getting me all hot and bothered here, soldier. What are you doing on my planet?”

Jeff studied her, obviously debating with himself as to what he could share. A muscle twitched in his clenched jaw. “Okay, I think I’m gonna break my oath today and reveal my secrets, but you’ve got to keep it strictly to yourself, understand?”

Biting her tongue not to make a sarcastic remark as to who else was even alive for her to tell besides Mike and inform Jeff she wouldn’t burden a child with military secrets she settled for a crisp, “I get it.”

“Yes, we’re on active duty. We do have a ranch to homestead, like I keep telling you. The idea was we’d go undercover as new arrivals, veterans with acreage, and gradually work our way into society up there in the wild lands. This is a long term operation.”

“But why? What’s happening on Randal Four that needs an elite team of Special Forces guys to investigate?” She took a deep breath. “Did you know this outbreak was going to happen? And no one warned us?”

He shook his head immediately. “Our orders would have been different if Command had known at the time the epidemic was happening. No, the rumors out here in the far Sectors are there may be elements of the population on certain colonies working with the enemy. My men and I would have presented ourselves as ideal candidates for the separatist movement. They like to recruit ex-military and the hope was over time we’d be invited to join.”

“Mawreg here?” Melly couldn’t wrap her head around the idea.

“No, probably several client races, maybe even undercover themselves masquerading as human. There was intel the enemy was trying this new tactic to see if they could persuade colonies to rebel, to secede from the Sectors. There was also intel the enemy might be experimenting with new technology and new ways of eradicating humans from worlds they wanted for themselves. I was instructed to explore both possibilities.”

“Do you think the virus causing the infected is an alien creation?”

“Could be. It’s one thing I want to track down. It’s a clumsy way to take out a planet’s population with a lot of inherent risk for the creators unless the aliens are immune to the virus and can control the infected but the enemy don’t think the same way we do. Their risk calculations could be totally different. And the word is they have an entire civilization of mad scientists up to no good at their beck and call. The Khagrish.”

“Never heard of them,” she said, leaving his lap and leaning against the bench back. “This is the stuff of trideo suspense thrillers.”

“I know.” His grin was rueful as he gestured around them. “But so is the situation we found ourselves in. At the ranch we have certain…capabilities shall we say. I can try to get in touch with my own contacts. Whatever is blocking the interstellar coms on this planet shouldn’t be able to affect the com rig I’ve got in my cargo pods at the ranch site.”

“How far away are we from this place?”

“A week maybe, depending on what we find along the way. We’ve had relatively easy sailing so far and we can’t expect our luck to continue, especially if there is an alien presence on the planet. We’ve got to stay below their sensors.” He studied her face. “I can keep you and Mike safe, I give you my word.”

Melly stared at their linked hands. “You’ve proven I can trust you over and over since we met. I just needed the truth about what brought you here.”

Grave’s dug, sir , Samms’s voice intruded. Should we bring out the bodies?

“How did they get it done so fast?” Melly asked. Her chest was tight with unshed tears.

“Your Dad had a mini backhoe and you know my guys are no slouches when it comes to operating heavy machinery. What shall I tell them? This is your show.”

She took a moment to consider the question. “I’m thinking mostly of Mike and what I want him to see. It seems best to me to bring him over once the—the…once my parents are…” She stumbled over the words and pressed her fist to her chest. The reality of her loss was crashing in on her again.

Go ahead and do the interment, fill in the grave, Jeff said. I’ll bring Melly and her brother when you’re ready.

Melly sat in silence, soaking in the comfort of his embrace until the soldiers let them know the work was done. Then she rose, smoothing her tee shirt and pants and finger combing her hair. “Let’s get Mike and get this over with.”

Zach, Cody, Mike and the dog met them at the rear of the house and she took her brother’s hand. They walked slowly around the corner and out into the yard to the spot chosen for her parents’ final resting place. The soldiers had chosen a place in the shade of a massive, local tree. The freshly dug grave was startling against the green of the lawn.

Jeff stood behind her and his men formed a line behind him as Melly and Mike took their places at the edge of the grave. Samms handed her a hastily gathered bouquet of flowers from her mother’s overgrown garden, which she accepted with grateful surprise.

She didn’t know any standard words to say over a grave so she spoke what was in her mind. “We’ll miss you more than I can say but I give you my word to take good care of Mike and keep him safe. I love you, Mom and Dad, and I need you and I don’t know how to manage without you, but I hope wherever you are now is peaceful.” Her throat choked up and she laid the bouquet on top of the mound of fresh smelling dirt. She remained kneeling, tears flowing and Mike stood next to her, one hand on her shoulder.

“Love you, Dad, love you, Mom. I’ll be a good boy and I’ll take care of Melly, I promise.” He sniffed and Melly pulled him into her arms.

Behind her Trent began to sing in a deep baritone voice. Melly didn’t recognize the song but it was slow and comforting, all about grace and hope. When he was finished, there was silence, broken only by the sound of the breeze and birds chirping in the trees. Melly wiped her eyes and got to her feet, Jeff stepping in to help her.

“Thank you for everything,” she said to him, but addressing all five of them. “And thank you for the song—it was beautiful.”

“Traditional, from my home world,” Trent said. “Supposedly came from Old Terra.”

“All right,” Jeff said, tone switching to no nonsense command. “Sitrep?”

“Still no infected in the direct vicinity although a group is roaming in the further part of the subdivision,” Cody said promptly. “We shouldn’t linger.”

“Can you and Mike be packed and ready to go in fifteen minutes?” Jeff asked Melly. “The guys and I can help. Nothing too big or bulky. Changes of clothing, blankets, any supplies you or he might need, medicines?—”

“My dad made us do evac drills once a year,” Melly said. “Remember, Mike?”

“Yeah, he’d get us up like in the middle of the night and time us.” The boy glanced at the house behind them. “My go bag is already in the APC. I don’t want to go in there.”

“We won’t be coming back,” Melly said, “Or not for a long time at least. You should go through your room and see if there’s anything else you want to take besides what you had in the shelter.”

“I’ll go with you, pal,” Cody said. “You can show me the collection of military models you were telling us about. We can pick the best one and pack it up to go.” He held out his hand and after a brief hesitation Mike took it.

“Buddy needs to go in the APC now,” Jeff said. “Let’s organize our loose ends here.”

Zach took the dog’s leash from Mike and headed off.

“Fifteen minutes to go through the entire house?” Melly said as she and Jeff followed Cody and her brother. “Even my father gave us more leeway.”

“We’ve been here too long as it is,” Jeff said bluntly. “Looters aren’t likely to risk taking on five armed men with APC’s but I’ve got that itch at the back of my neck again. Says we need to get gone.”

“I don’t have much here anymore,” she said as she entered the house. Melly stopped in the living room and stared around her.

“Maybe in your parents’ room? A holo or two? Toiletries? She have any clothes you can take? It gets damn cold in the highlands where the ranch is located.” He kissed her forehead. “I know this is hard, doc and I admire how well you’re holding up. The guys cleared the bed.” He left unspoken the thought of what the sheets and blankets had been used for.

“All right.” Melly forced herself to trudge up the stairs, Jeff behind her. “My parents converted my room into a crafts room for my mom so there’s nothing in there I’ll need.” She heard Mike and Cody talking as they passed his bedroom door. “There’s no telling what he’ll bring, you know.”

“He’s a kid, he needs some stuff.” Jeff shrugged philosophically,. “Cody has younger brothers so he’ll steer the selection process. Any medications your brother needs?”

“No, he’s been blessed with great health,” she said, forcing herself to walk into the master bedroom. She tried not to glance in the direction of the bed but went straight to the bathroom to gather up useful items. Zach brought a backpack upstairs for her and Melly tried to put herself into the right frame of mind to accomplish what Jeff was asking her to do. She grabbed a couple of holo decks with family photos. Walking into her mother’s huge closet was hard. The scent of her perfume permeated the air but Melly forced herself to sort through the clothing rapidly and take a few practical sweaters, tops and jeans. Fortunately she and her mother had been almost like twins, wearing the same sizes as adults.

Jeff picked up a pair of sturdy walking shoes and some boots. “These would both be good.”

“Fine, pack them.” She went into the bedroom and walked to the bureau, taking out underthings and a nightshirt or two, plus rolled up socks.

Then she made her way to the jewelry box. Gritting her teeth, she flicked it open and picked through the tangled mess to find a few special pieces with sentimental value, including a necklace her father had given her mother when the couple were first dating. “I assume they were buried with their wedding rings.” She turned and saw Jeff looking stricken. “It’s all right, I prefer it that way.” She took a ring her mother had always laughingly promised she would inherit because as a child she’d been fascinated by the central opal and the fires it contained.

“I’m done here. I can’t stand this another minute,” she said, walking past Jeff and out the door. Screams of grief and frustration built in her chest but there was no time for a breakdown now and she wouldn’t fall apart in front of her brother.

Jeff squeezed her shoulder as he walked past, carrying the backpack. Five more minutes and we roll, he said over the com.

Melly entered her father’s study and was overwhelmed by the scent of the feelgood he enjoyed smoking, which lingered in the carpet and drapes no matter what her mother did to clean the room. She surveyed his desk and started opening drawers as fast as she could. “I want his special pocketknife for my brother to keep,” she said, sensing Jeff in the doorway. “Here it is.” Slipping the knife into her pocket, she snatched up another holo disc and walked to where the captain stood. “I’ll grab a couple of things in the living room as we go out, okay?”

He took the disc from her and tucked it into the backpack. “Whatever you need, sweetheart.”

“I’m sure I’m forgetting all kinds of things,” she said over her shoulder as she descended the stairs. “And there are a lot of things we won’t be needing that Dad used to make us grab, like the data records for the house title, birth certificates, their marriage certificate, etcetera.”

“Yeah, the bureaucracy here is pretty much washed up,” Jeff agreed.

The roar of the APC engines initializing gave her a spurt of adrenaline. She hesitated. “Did the guys check the kitchen for food?”

“Trent gave it a quick once over, grabbed a few things. Cody said they took quite a bit from the shelter before sealing it back up.” He tapped the chrono on his wrist. “Time, doc.”

“This will only take a second.” Melly ran to the cabinet against the far wall and took two small figurines, handing them to Jeff before she opened the doors on the bottom half with a firm push and plucked out more holo discs. “I can’t take them all so this representative sample will have to do.” She dropped one and chased after it as the disc rolled under the nearest chair.

Infected at the end of the block, Cody said. Couple dozen . Mike says he knows a few of them. Kid’s getting kind of upset.

We’re coming. Jeff took her arm as she tried to fish the last disc out of its hiding place. “No more time.” He drew her out of the living room and onto the porch, placing himself between her and the oncoming group of infected as they ran to the APC.

Melly couldn’t force herself to avert her eyes and recognized a few faces, even as disfigured and grotesque as they were now. Neighbors, one of her old teachers, her Dad’s best friend and hunting buddy…her steps slowed as she gaped at the oncoming group. Jeff picked her up and practically flung her into the APC, where Zach waited to guide her into her seat. The vehicle was already moving as the captain threw himself inside and closed the portal.

Although he was belted into the safety restraints, Mike leaned into her. He was shaking and Buddy was whining as he anxiously laid his head on the boy’s knee. “I thought we were going to leave without you,” he said to Melly as she sat down.

“We’ll be okay, pal,” Jeff said as he made his way to the co-pilot’s chair. “Nothing can get at us inside here and we don’t leave anyone behind. Especially not Melly. We’ll be clear of this in a few minutes and on our way.”

“Did you see Mrs. Flynn?” Mike asked Melly after the captain reassured him. “Her whole family got sick and Mom was helping them. Dad was so mad at her but she said it was what good neighbors do.”

Melly had heard her utter the homily many times. “Yes?”

“And then one of the Flynn kids bit her and that—that was when she got sick and things got really bad.” Mike rested his face against Buddy’s furry neck and Melly could only rub his back and try to be comforting as they drove away from the only home he’d ever known.